Introduction to the Special Issue on Spirituality and Psychotherapy

Religion and spirituality have been topics of interest to psychologists since the inception of the field, and this special issue devoted to spirituality and psychotherapy reflects the maturation of decades of research. Psychotherapy clients would like to discuss religious or spiritual issues with therapists, but therapists feel poorly prepared to do so. This special issue hopefully represents a step towards bridging the needs of clients and the expertise of providers. The seven articles in this issue reflect the progress psychologists have made toward understanding religion and spirituality, and they represent state‐of‐the‐art attempts at integrating these dimensions into treatment

Spiritual Struggles and Health: Assessing the Influence of Socioeconomic Status

Growing evidence suggests that spiritual struggles may play a major role in explaining the relationship between religion and health. Even so, there are significant gaps in the literature. More specifically, researchers do not know enough about how spiritual struggles arise in the first place. This study has two major goals. The first is to see whether socioeconomic status is associated with spiritual struggles. The second is to see whether spiritual struggles are associated with physical health. A conceptual model is tested that contains the following core hypotheses: (1) individuals with lower levels of educational attainment are more likely to encounter chronic economic difficulties; (2) people who experience ongoing financial strain are more likely to live in rundown neighborhoods; (3) people who live in dilapidated neighborhoods will be more angry than their well‐to‐do counterparts; (4) people who are more angry will, in turn, be more likely to experience spiritual struggles; and (5) greater spiritual struggles will be associated with more symptoms of physical illness. Data from a recent nationwide survey (N = 2,146) provide empirical support for each hypothesis.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143659/1/jssr12364_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143659/2/jssr12364.pd

Turning to God to forgive: More than meets the eye.

Adults (N = 89; 59% female) recruited from divorce records reported levels of turning to God to forgive (TGF) themselves, their ex-spouse, and God for their divorce when it occurred (Time 1, Tl) and one year later (Time 2, T2). Seventy-five percent of participants reported TGF. T1 TGF predicted higher levels of T2 positive spiritual emotions, T2 verbal aggression by the participant and ex-spouse, and T2 demonization of ex-spouse. Participants were grouped according to pattern of TGF over time (Resolved, Chronic, Delayed, and Low). Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that the Resolved group reported greater declines in demonizing the divorce relative to other groups. Multiple main effects for TGF pattern also emerged. This highlights the need to consider the potentially desirable and undesirable psychosocial and spiritual factors associated with TGF

Marital Sanctification and Spiritual Intimacy Predicting Married Couples’ Observed Intimacy Skills across the Transition to Parenthood

This study examined the extent to which 164 married heterosexuals’ reports of the sanctification of marriage and spiritual intimacy during pregnancy predicted the trajectory of the couples’ observed intimacy skills during late pregnancy and when their first child was 3, 6, and 12 months old. At each time point, couples were videotaped in their homes for 10 min discussing their fears and vulnerabilities about becoming and being a new parent. Separate teams of three coders rated the four interactions and each spouse’s intimacy skills, including disclosure of feelings of vulnerability about becoming or being a new parent, and supportive comments and positive non-verbal responses to each other. Using a multi-level dyadic discrepancy approach to growth curve modeling, both husbands’ and wives’ observed intimacy skills displayed a curvilinear trajectory over the first year of parenthood, with wives consistently displaying more emotional intimacy skills than husbands. Consistent with hypotheses, higher endorsement of the sanctification of marriage and spiritual intimacy between spouses at home predicted higher observed intimacy skills across time. No variation in these associations emerged due to parent gender. Thus, this longitudinal study identifies two specific spiritual processes within marriages that may motivate spouses to share their vulnerabilities and provide one another with valuable emotional support in coping with the transition to parenthood

Demonization of Divorce: Prevalence Rates and Links to Postdivorce Adjustment

The meaning-making process can be crucial to individuals as they adjust to their divorce. Demonization is a negative coping response (also known as spiritual struggle) that involves appraising someone or something as related to demonic forces. Individuals may cognitively frame a divorce as the work of Satan in order to understand suffering while maintaining beliefs in a just world or benevolent God. In this study, nearly half (48%) of the community sample (N = 100) endorsed some form of demonization related to their recent divorce. Differences were observed in psychological postdivorce adjustment (post-traumatic stress, depression, anger, and positive/negative spiritual emotions) among groups with differing levels of demonization of divorce, demonization of ex-spouse, and demonization of self (none, low, and high). Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed

The Decoding of the Human Spirit: A Synergy of Spirituality and Character Strengths Toward Wholeness

Little attention has been given to the integral relationship between character strengths and spirituality (the search for or communing with the sacred to derive meaning and purpose). The science of character strengths has surged in recent years with hundreds of studies, yet with minimal attention to spirituality or the literature thereof. At the same time, the science of spirituality has steadily unfolded over the last few decades and has offered only occasional attention to select strengths of character (e.g., humility, love, and forgiveness) or the universal typology of the VIA classification of character strengths and virtues. In this exploration, we argue that there is a robust synergy of these sciences and practices revealing that spirituality is vitally concerned with promoting character strengths. At the same time, character strengths can enhance and deepen spiritual practices, rituals, and experiences. We elaborate on how character strengths and spirituality come together in the context of the psycho-spiritual journey toward wholeness. By wholeness, we are referring to a way of being in the world that involves a life-affirming view of oneself and the world, a capacity to see and approach life with breadth and depth and the ability to organize the life journey into a cohesive whole. We further discuss six levels by which spirituality can be integrated within the VIA Classification, including a meta-perspective in which wholeness represents a meta-strength or superordinate virtue. We frame two pathways of integration: the grounding path, in which character strengths offer tangibility and thereby deepen and enhance spirituality, and the sanctification path, in which spirituality elevates character strengths. Finally, we turn to research-based practices and examine how character strengths might facilitate and contribute to spiritual practices and, conversely, how spirituality might enhance character strength practices. Such multifaceted integration offers insight and wisdom to both areas of study and opens up new directions for psycho-spiritual research and practices to deepen and broaden our understanding of what it means to be human

Spiritual stress and coping model of divorce: A longitudinal study.

This study represents the first longitudinal effort to use a spiritual stress and coping model to predict adults\u27 psychosocial adjustment following divorce. A community sample of 89 participants completed measures at the time of their divorce and 1 year later. Though the sample endorsed slightly lower levels of religiosity than the general U.S. population, most reported spiritual appraisals and positive and negative religious coping tied to divorce. Hierarchical regression analyses controlling general religiousness and nonreligious forms of coping indicated that (a) appraising divorce as a sacred loss or desecration at the time it occurred predicted more depressive symptoms and dysfunctional conflict tactics with the ex-spouse 1 year later; (b) positive religious coping reported about the year following divorce predicted greater posttraumatic growth 1 year after divorce; and (c) negative religious coping reported about the year following divorce predicted more depressive symptoms 1 year after the divorce. Bootstrapping mediation analyses indicated that negative religious coping fully mediated links between appraising the divorce as a sacred loss or desecration at the time it occurred and depressive symptoms 1 year later. In addition, moderation analyses revealed that negative religious coping is more strongly associated with depressive symptoms among those who form high versus low appraisals of their divorce as a sacred loss or desecration. These findings are relevant to divorce education and intervention provided by professionals in legal, family, mental health, and clerical roles. Implications are discussed for clinical and counseling psychology and religious communities

Auf dem Weg zu einem theoretischen Model von Spiritualität für die klinische Praxis: Eine amerikanische Perspektive

Auf dem Weg zu einem theoretischen Model von Spiritualität für die klinische Praxis: Eine amerikanische PerspektiveDas Thema Spiritualität wurde in der Vergangenheit in weiten Teilen als völlig losgelöst von therapeutischen Konzepten gesehen. Doch scheint es, dass Patienten in der Psychotherapie in jüngster Zeit einen gestiegenen Wert auf Konzepte der Spiritiualität legen. Der folgende Beitrag soll ein theoretisches Modell vorstellen, dass PraktikerInnen im Umgang mit Spirituaität während der Therapie helfen kann. Innerhalb dieses Rahmens wird Spiritualität verstanden als die Suche nach dem Heiligen und setzt sich somit mit der Suche des Individuums nach dem Heiligen auseinander. Außerdem versucht das Model auch problematisierende Einflüsse auf das Verhältnis des Individuums zum Heiligen mit einzubeziehen und macht eine Unterscheidung zwischen gut und schlecht integrierten Formen der Spiritualität möglich. Schliesslich wollen wir anhand von klinischen Beispielen die erfolgreiche Integration von Spiritualität in die Therapie aufzeigen.Historically, the topic of spirituality has been largely disconnected from mental health treatment. However, recent evidence suggests that clients desire greater attention to spirituality in psychotherapy. The current paper provides a theoretical model for understanding and evaluating spirituality that can guide mental health treatment. This framework defines spirituality as a search for the sacred and addresses individuals' discovery of, attempts to conserve, and, at times, transform their views of the sacred. The model also considers the effects of stressors on an individual’s relationship with the sacred, and offers a way to distinguish well-integrated from poorly integrated forms of spirituality. We conclude with a review of successful attempts to address spirituality in mental health treatment

A DECADE OF RESEARCH ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION AND COPING: Things we assumed and lessons we learned

Recently, the field of psychology has begun to display a growing interest in religious coping methods and their implications for health and well-being. Empirical studies have yielded an interesting picture of the relationship between religious coping and physical and mental health. In this paper, we review some of the foundational assumptions on which the theory of religion and coping rests. Then, we summarize recent advances in research in the area of religion and coping. We conclude by highlighting some of the exciting new directions for research in the psychology of religion and coping

Meaning in Life Moderates the Relationship Between Sacred Loss/Desecration and Health

According to sanctification theory, religious people tend to imbue certain aspects of their lives with spiritual character and significance. Moreover, they take active steps to preserve and protect sacred aspects of their lives that might be threatened. If they are successful, they derive a deep sense of satisfaction and well‐being. However, when stressful events arise, some individuals are not able to preserve and protect the facets of their lives that they have come to view as sacred. The resulting sacred loss/desecration can be associated with physical and mental health problems. The purpose of the current study is to see if a sense of meaning in life buffers (i.e., moderates) the relationship between sacred loss/desecration and four measures of health: physical functioning, the number of chronic conditions, symptoms of physical illness, and self‐rated health. Data from a recent nationwide survey (N = 2,104–2,107) suggest that the negative relationship between sacred loss/desecration and each health outcome is lower for people who have a stronger sense of meaning in life.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145223/1/jssr12522.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145223/2/jssr12522_am.pd